Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 6 - Part 5 of 14
13. 2. 43.
Darling Kay,
To be sure youre a foine gurrl
a sending your laddy another bonny letter and
right proud of ye he is and all for thinkin
of him so lovin. Yours of the 8th got to the
end of the trail today and a newsy sheet
it proved to be. As is my custom. I looked
for your assurances of good health and ability
to dabble in your hobbies and I always feel
rewarded when I see the familiar lines that
everything proceeds according to plan. Like you,
sweet, I find difficulty in suppressing a tinge
of the squeals from encroaching into the pages
of my letters but shall try and imitate your
philosophy in ignoring that tendency. But lemme
tell you that I miss you cruelly and from my
own feelings, I get an indication just how
empty life is when the one you love more than
anyone in the world is separated from you. Thats
how its got to be , it seems , but we must take
faith that it won’t be for so very long and
there’s quite a good chance that we’ll be together
in a few months from now.
2/
Its nice for the fickle weather to keep a coolish
complexion for a while down /there considering its dead
in the middle of the hot season. If it comes
up hot, just retire to the cool seclusion of your
snug cabin and give the slaves who have to go
out in it a the right of the road. Stiff luck
for you, sport, getting hung up waiting for trams
when over at Glen Iris. Carrying the burden
you are, however precious, is a big strain upon
you and standing up for a period must be
very arduous. Poor little bundle, you do need
a big kiss cuddle, your head against my
chest and the pretty curly thatch softly stroked.
Book me up for one of those and I think
I can guarantee to soothe and refresh you
in preparation for an interlude of love-making
that would inevitably follow if we haven't
slipped. You know, I'm feeling pretty
hearty and vital just now and in Melbourne's
congenial climate could give heaps of time and
effort on behalf of my precious lady, Kay,
and give anything for the chance. Carry on,
darling and there's a good time coming which
we'll lap up in bucketfuls.
3/
You needn't send me the Bulletin, as
theres enough papers here to read and really we
don't get much spare time as before. What I
have I put in at study mostly so send them
straight on to John, he can use them better
than me. There was only one text book I
requested, Kay as I brought the others back with
me. Thanks, pet, for mailing it on. I see you
are now passing through that no-letter period
and feel crooked about it as I can well realise
how you must feel with no letters coming in
from me. I'm only consoled that the gap
was only four days and by now they should
be rolling along once more.
The manpower people don't seem
to be able to take no for an answer, do they?
A bit like that husband of yours sometimes and
perhaps you'd better crack the whip to them as
you had to once or twice with that impetuous
lover of yours. Canning factory, my foot! That
would be ideal for you and Richard would
soon be a memory. I chuckle when I visualise
you dealing crushingly with the red-tape merchants.
4/
You said it, honey, Brisbane is hot and
exceedingly humid. No sun today, but sultry
as the devil, tropical showers and oodles of
mosquitoes. Marvellous combination. Work
of the drudgery description has occupied my
precious time today to my great pleasure.
I could gnash my molars in fury when I
you and I are itching to be together and
I'm here as a sort of cross between the
V D.c and the c.c.c Soldier, huh!
Despite the knowledge of your
physician. I'm betting on your forecast of the
date Richard will make its his debut as if
his mother can't calculate it, I don't see who
can. I certainly must be among those present
for the milestone, you bet. So on that
happy note. I now get off the air,
Sending you a hearty slap on the back
and such a heap of kisses, squeezes,
hugs and caresses, my treasure.
All my love,
Micky
13.2.43
Mrs. M Billings
548 Barkers Road
East Hawthorn
Victoria
Novgee Moojee
PR00610
Australian
War Memorial
15 2 43
Darling Kay,
Today is Monday and quite unlike
the usual Monday, once so dreaded, was a jolly
good day. Guess why? Cos' the postie bringed
me two longed letters from the bundle, those
of the 10th & 11th Feb. In fact, I feel far more
amiable tonight than I have for many days and.
As the weather has been extra hot and sweaty,
it can't be that, I haven't won the Casket
or had any similar windfall, its not that either
so I conclude the tonic effect is due to the
two sweet letters. I'm so glad you've had my
letters since we went on the trip and had your
fears of suddening journeyings into the dark
forests proved groundless. So it seems that all
three of us are delighted, the retiring Richard
giving vent to his appreciation in lusty fashion.
I suppose you got quite a thrill when he started
his antics, I did when I read your letter. as
it makes him a real living creation of
ours now and I'm now awaiting for him
to emerge into the world. A bit precious
aren't I? Still I reckon its marvellous at a
2/
time like this to be have such a wonderful thing
to look forward to and it the expectation of
being a father gives a new meaning and purpose
to life. And as the weeks and months creep by,
I can detect a suppressed excitement in your
letters as the reality of being a mother draws
nearer, for one thing, because of the way you
dismiss rather airily the discomfort the young scamp
causes you. The mother instinct is growing stronger
all the time and you just can't do enough now
to bring into the world a bonny healthy child.
That innate feeling of gladness is going to go a
long way to sustain you when your confinement
commences. A rather marvellous triumph, I think,
that all too rare submerging of self to the
divine work of creation. It seems its only a
very noble thing that can bring one to undergo
such sacrifices and yet all praise that you're
big enough in yourself to even set out on that
long and distressing journey. Do you wonder that
I love you more than ever now. You answered
every call a man could make upon you
and God knows men are not the least
exacting & selfish cows in their demands
3/
upon their own womenfolk. I often hark me
back through the years which we have passed
together and how happy our relationship has
been. Not that staid bovine contentment that
is tedious by any means but a state that has
cast us up into the heights of passionate
love then lowered u us gently into the region
of abiding friendship. The first night I really
met you I kissed you with feeling too and every
time I've seen you since I wanted to
repeat the performance. When you look at it like
that, it is beautifully sweet. With what ardor
we have rested in each other's arms and drawn
such joy from the pressure of lips to lips.
Memories mean such a lot to me now I'm
separated from you and one day soon I intend
to try as well as my poor facility will allow
me to wave the magic wand and tell you
simply of my feeling, thoughts and joys while
I was with you. It will be a hard task
to adequately express just what you have always
meant to me but as our life together has
temporarily come to a halt, I am bold enough
to think you would like to hear of these things.
4/
I really love you so much that if I can't personally
render reminiscence unnecessary I /still can't get my
still fiery affection out of my mind and look for
an avenue to try and express it to you. That in
a nutshell is why I shall remind you and
myself of just what joy you have given me.
Well pet, here is the news
since my last screed. Off yesterday so spent
the afternoon and P evening at Rawling's. Both
of them are so pleased you are well and send
their love, also does Gran. Had a quiet but
pleasant day. Today lots of work from peeling
onions, scrubbing floors to playing soldiers.
Thrilling, eh what! Sorry Red is crook, I
wrote to Ada yesterday but have not posted
it when yours arrived so shall add a bit.
Thats about all the dope that
comes to mind just now so shall have a
respite until tomorrow. So long, my own
darling and I just can't wish you enough
good things. I send all my love with
a big kiss and sweetest of dreams to Richard
& his mummy from
Micky his daddy.
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